Shaun Kenny-Dowall not guilty of assaulting former partner Jess Peris
AN emotional Shaun Kenny-Dowall embraced a large group of supporters after he was acquitted of assaulting ex-lover Jess Peris, who was described by the magistrate as ‘unreliable’.
NSW
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A MAGISTRATE labelled the daughter of Olympian-turned-senator Nova Peris an “unreliable” and “calculating” witness before yesterday acquitting her ex-boyfriend, rugby league star Shaun Kenny-Dowall, of domestic violence charges.
The 28-year-old Sydney Roosters centre broke down in tears and embraced supporters after being found not guilty on 11 charges in Downing Centre Local.
Handing down his judgment, Magistrate Gregory Grogin said Jess Peris was not an “impressive witness”.
“Her answers to many questions which were of a straightforward nature were evasive,” he said. “I assessed her answers to be calculated, evasive and intentionally framed.”
Peris had claimed that her former footy beau assaulted her on seven occasions between October 2014 and June 2015 — and also broke her phone twice, sent her offensive text messages and intimidated her. She made the allegations to police last July, but only after approaching Kenny-Dowall’s football club for financial assistance.
Kenny-Dowall maintained his innocence throughout the case and pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
Mr Grogin yesterday said he found the letter in which Ms Peris unsuccessfully asked the Sydney Roosters for a month’s income, temporary accommodation and use of a car after the relationship ended to be “extremely unusual”.
He added that a lack of any photos of her injuries or complaints until after the couple split made it difficult to prove her allegations “beyond a reasonable doubt”.
As part of proceedings, several of the 40,000 texts the couple had exchanged were read in court, some vulgar and insulting, others detailing their “vigorous” sex life.
Mr Grogin said it was quite clear the relationship between the parties was “at times loving, at times volatile and at times surrounded by indifference”.
“Often these words were less than delicate. The language used between (them) on an extremely regular basis can only be described as rude, base and vulgar,” he said.
The NRL said it hoped the Roosters would work with Kenny-Dowall, who was painted as a controlling and jealous spouse by the prosecution.
He is expected to line up for the Roosters in their opening match of the season against South Sydney this Sunday.
Originally published as Shaun Kenny-Dowall not guilty of assaulting former partner Jess Peris
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